The Topeka Kennel Club had day three in their Kansas hometown and asked Dr Gerard Penta to do the BIS duties. He had a super seven of the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, the Pharaoh Hound, GCH CH Northgate’s As You Like It, the Siberian Husky to be named later, the Border Terrier, GCH CH Devon Lady Semper Fi, the Papillon, GCH CH Copella's Rising Attraction, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Dawin Avion Wouldn'T You Know, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, GCH CH Aubrey’s Tails Of Mystery.

Best was the beautiful black Standard Poodle, Woody. Woody is the latest collaboration between owner Linda Campbell and handle Sarah Riedl. Woody has picked up all three of his big rosettes in the last three months.

BIS went to the country’s Number One Herding Dog, the GSD, Capi. Capi and handler Jimmy Moses have collected 14 BIS & 67 Herding Groups so far this season. Currently the Number 14 Dog All Breeds, Capi has a good shot at moving up a couple of spots this week.

Helene Nietsch closed out the abbreviated set in W Springfield MA for the Newton Kennel Club. The seven stalwarts hoping to pick up a big rosette were the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night, the 15” Beagle, GCH CH Lanrigg Star of the Stage, the Boxer, Jacquet‘s Laredo El Encanto, the Welsh Terrier, CH Saredon It Had to Be You, the Miniature Pinscher, GCH CH Kimro‘s Dora the Explorer, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Hillwood Ale Kai Anthony, and the Bearded Collie, GCH CH Tolkien Raintree Mister Baggins.

Grabbing the BIS was the Beagle, Sage. Sage has been steadily collecting big rosettes this season and now has seven to her credit. Today’s show will be the last of the set as exhibitors rush to get on the road and get home before Hurricane Irene hits New England tomorrow.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Day two of the Topeka Redux is complete and the country’s Number One Dog, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, continues his winning ways, taking home his fifth straight BIS.

Donna Buxton chose Beckham out of a select seven that also included the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, GCH CH Jodell Boogie Back to Texas, the Kuvazs, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence, the American Staffordshire Terrier, GCH CH Alpine’s Ring of Fire, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, GCH CH Miletree Northern Star at Shirmont, the Schipperke, GCH CH Dante Fire When Ready HOF, and the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Lambluv Gambolon Blue Thunder.

Beckham and handlers Linda & Michael Pitts have collected 37 BIS this year, more than any other dog.

The Sugarbush Kennel Club opened the three day weekend today in Chagrin Falls OH with the first of their two shows. Chris Walkowicz considered the Golden Retriever, GCH CH Summit’s Emery It’s in the Bag, the Afghan Hound, GCH CH Xenos Jimlet, the Portuguese Water Dog, CH Navio’s Flower of the Sea, the Lakeland Terrier, GCH CH Talydales Friend of the Force, the Smooth Coat Chihuahua, GCH CH Ayrwen Star Kissed Delight, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Babheim’s Captain Crunch.

Talking home the first big rosette of the set was the nation’s Number Nine Dog All Breeds, the Standard Poodle, London. London now has 20 BIS this year. We will wait until all the numbers are in before we predict if he’ll move up the rankings this week.

Sheila DiNardo had the final at today’s Elm City Kennel Club in W Springfield MA. Her seven hopefuls were the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night, the 15” Beagle, GCH CH Lanrigg Star of the Stage, the Great Dane, GCH CH Lobato’s Jitterbug Man, the American Staffordshire Terrier, GCH CH Castle Rock's SBigStaff Mad About You , the Toy Poodle, GCH CH Barclay Belstar Tinkilees Buddy, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Hillwood Ale Kai Anthony, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Propwash Reckon.

BIS was the outstanding AmStaff, Maddy. Maddy, winner of last year’s Montgomery County Kennel Club Terrier Super Bowl, is the current Number Two Terrier (based on all dogs defeated) with eleven BIS and 42 Terrier Group top prizes so far this year.

New Englanders will cut the weekend short to avoid Hurricane Irene, packing up after tomorrow’s Newtown Kennel Club show and skipping Sunday’s Great Barrington Kennel Club event which has been cancelled.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fanciers in Topeka KS had three days off between last Monday’s Jesse James Kennel Club show and today’s Topeka Kennel Club event and were rested and raring to go by the time they saw the inside of Ken Buxton’s Final.

Our show week got underway today with the Northwestern Connecticut Dog Club’s show, the first of four to be held in West Springfield MA this week. The seven that Cathy Daugherty chose her Best from were the English Springer Spaniel, GCH CH Cerise Tender Is The Night, the Basset Hound, GCH CH Beauchasseur Hewgo Boss, the Alaskan Malamute, GCH CH Tugar’s America’s Most Wanted, the Welsh Terrier, CH Sarendon It Had To Be You, the Toy Poodle, GCH CH Barclay Belstar Tinkilees Buddy, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Hillwood Ale Kai Anthony, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Propwash Reckon.

Her Best was the Australian Shepherd, Reckon. You may recall that Reckon, fresh from a European campaign, burst onto the AKC show scene last December, to grab his first AKC Best In Show at the sport’s marquee event, the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. Reckon has not been campaigned as aggressively as some, but has still collected 12 Herding Group firsts this year. Today’s win was Reckon’s first BIS of the season. Congratulations to breeders/owners Leslie B Frank & Judy Harrington, co-breeder Nancy J Gaffney, and owner Lois Hoyt.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

As summer winds down, the dog show action heats up with multiple show venues in multiple parts of the US this week.

New Englanders will be in West Springfield MA starting Thursday for a four day set with the Northwestern Connecticut Dog Club, the Elm City Kennel Club, the Newtown Kennel Club, & the Great Barrington Kennel Club. Our other Northeast option is Middleburg PA where the Mid Susquehanna Valley Kennel Club will host two. We have a major offering here in the Deep South where the Griffin Georgia Kennel Club, the Sawnee Mountain Kennel Club Of Georgia, the Lawrenceville Kennel Club, & the Conyers Kennel Club Of Georgia, will gather for four days in Atlanta GA.

Midwesterners have a full schedule with three starting Friday in Chagrin Falls OH courtesy of the Sugarbush Kennel Club & the Western Reserve Kennel Club, two in St Charles IL with the Elgin Kennel Club, & two in Lake Elmo MN hosted by the St Croix Valley Kennel Club, augmented by the North Star Herding Group Club & the Northstar Working Group Association limited breed shows on Friday & Monday. Many of our top dogs are still in Topeka KS where the Manhattan Kansas Kennel Club & the Topeka Kennel Club have four shows starting Thursday.

We have a full contingent of West Coast shows this week with the Simi Valley Kennel Club‘s, the Santa Barbara Kennel Club‘s, & Conejo Kennel Club’s four all breed shows beginning Friday in Santa Barbara CA. North of San Francisco the Mensona Kennel Club will give us two in Santa Rosa CA. Finally, the All Terrier Club Of Western Washington & the Mount Rainier Working Dog Club will each do two shows on Friday & Saturday prior to the Sammamish Kennel Club’s all breed show on Sunday in Redmond WA.

That’s 28 chances to see an AKC all breed show this week in one of ten locations. There’s not much summer left. What are you waiting for?

You can add an exclamation pint the title Number One Dog All Breeds as the Cocker, Beckham, cements his standing with his third big rosette of the weekend against Top Ten Competition. Beckham will start the week with a 6000 point lead on his fellow Top Ten.

Her Best In Show was the Australian Shepherd, Tanner. It’s the first BIS for five year old Tanner. Congratulations to breeders Alan McCorkle, Kathy McCorkle, & Benet Nelson, owner Mary Arnold, and handler Megan Hof.

Her Best was the nation’s Number One Wire Fox Terrier, Eira. Eira and handler Gabriel Rangel have five big rosettes this year

GCH CH Oakley’s B’Dazzled

Eira was back on Sunday to see Butch MacDonald along with the above named English setter, Afghan, & Affenpinscher, the Kuvazs, GCH CH Szumeria’s Wildwood Silver Six Pence, the Chinese Shar-Pei, GCH CH Vaje’s Miss Jayne Hathaway, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Rocheuses Me and my Shadow of Cornus.

Mr MacDonald’s BIS was the English Setter, Dazzle. Dazzle is the nation’s top winning English Setter, with four all breed Bests and 23 Sporting Group Firsts.

His Best was the Border Collie, Dodger. Dodger is just beginning his specials career and already had a BISS under his belt before collecting this BIS, his first. Congratulations to breeders Lisa Waldo, Frank Baylis, & Caroline Woods. Owners Lisa and Mary Ann Waldo, and handler Lenny Brown.

GCH CH Wynmoor Champagne Supernova

(Photo by RJ Venable)

On Sunday Bonnie Threllfal saw five of Saturday’s finalists and the Kerry Blue Terrier, GCH Tontine’s Chance Redemption, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Briarbrook’s Chief Justice, before choosing the Springer, Peyton as her Best. Last weekend Peyton & handler Robin Novack pulled off the hat trick, winning three Bests in a row. The wins bring Peyton’s 2011 BIS total to twelve and makes him the Number Eleven Dog All Breeds, just a breath out of the prestigious Top Ten. This boy is on a mission!

Muncie IN had a stellar crowd for four days this week. Check our archives for all the action from Thursday, Friday, & Saturday.

Robert Fetter had the closer on Sunday for the Anderson Kennel Club and a line up that included the English Setter, GCH CH Stargazr'n Wingfield Wait Wait Don't Tell, the Redbone Coonhound, Wabash River Thunder's Storm, the Samoyed, GCH CH Ala-Kasam's Spirit Of Adventure, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH Waybroke Broxden Turning Tanner, the Pug, GCH CH Caper's Sirius Endeavor, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Jaset’s Satisfaction, and the Australian Shepherd, GCH CH Legacy's Bold Venture.

BIS was AKC’s Number Nine Dog All Breeds, the Standard Poodle, London. It’s London’s 19th big rosette of the season.

Her Best was the nation’s Number Four Dog All Breeds, the Boxer, Scarlett. Mark that as her 24th of the year.

Saturday the Tiogs County Kennel Club took over with their first of two shows. Lawrence Terricone had the day one final and the option of the Boxer, Scarlett, the above named Irish Setter, Papillon, & Miniature Poodle, the Ibizan Hound, CH Harehill's Working The Strip, the West Highland White Terrier, GCH CH JGB's Son Of A Preacherman, or the German Shepherd Dog, GCH CH Babheim Captain Crunch.

He opted for the Irish Setter, who is just shy of her second birthday. Congratulations to breeder/owner Karren Harrison, co-breeder Suzanne Walker, and handler Rebecca Arch

Sunday, August 21, 2011

The competition keeps on delivering in Topeka KS. W Everett Dean Jr had the final for the Greater Emporia Kennel Club’s second show of the four show set. His seven were a mix of new & familiar faces, the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, the Whippet, GCH CH Karasar’s Masterpiece, the Rottweiler, GCH CH Chancellor High Flyin' Gladiator, the West Highland White Terrier, CH Deerhaven An Heir About Him, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Saks Hamelot Little Drummer Boy, and the Finnish Lapphund, CH Sugarbok Born in the USA.

It was the country’s Number One Dog All Breeds, the Cocker, Beckham, picking up his second BIS of the weekend. That brings his 2011 total to 34. Everyone gets one more shot at another big rosette tomorrow before they pack up and head home.

The Marshfield Area Kennel Club wrapped up the three stay in the Wisconsin town with Honey Glendinning’s final. She had her pick of the Golden Retriever, GCH CH Summits Emery It In The Bag, the Basset Hound, GCH CH Fort Merrill Topsfield Yahoo, the CH Airedale Terrier, CH Epoch's Time Bandit, the Shih Tzu, GCH CH Ista's Hurricain Chaser, the Tibetan Terrier, GCH CH Ri Lee's Diamonds Are Forever, and the Bouvier des Flandres, GCH CH Frontier's License To Carry All Margaux.

Best went to the Shih Tzu, Chaser. It’s a first for Chaser. Congratulations to breeder/owner Gregory Larson and owner Deborah Wheeler.

Best was the up & coming Kerry, Chelsey. It was the first AKC BIS for the 2011 Crufts BOB. Chelsey, who hails from the UK, made an impressive American debut back in June with a Group Two at the fiercely competitive Great Western Terrier Association ‘s Sunday show. Congratulations to breeders Brendan & S Laing, owners Ed & Lynn Yingling & Phil Davies, and handler Bill McFadden.

The western states check in with the results from the day one show of the Reno (NV) Kennel Club. Rita Biddle chose her best of the Labrador Retriever, CH Gingerbred Party Animal, the Basset Hound, GCH CH Blossomhill Hello Dolly, the Boxer, GCH CH Conquest-Rosend's New Kid In Town, the Scottish Terrier, GCH CH Friendship Hill Stars And Stripes, the Pomeranian, GCH CH CR Simply Irresistible, the Standard Poodle, GCH CH Brighton Lakeridge Encore, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Heatherhill Dazzle Me Montana.

Her Best was the Basset, Dolly. It’s the second big rosette this season for Dolly & handler Mike Stone who are beginning to make regular appearances in the final ring.

Topeka KS continues to be the spot where fanciers can see head to head match ups amongst the country’s top dogs this weekend. John Ramirez’ final for the Jesse James Kennel Club yesterday included four of our current Top Ten Dogs All Breeds. His seven were the Black Cocker Spaniel, GCH CH Casablanca’s Thrilling Seduction, the Pharaoh Hound, GCH CH Northgate’s As You Like It, a yet as unidentified Newfoundland, the Smooth Fox Terrier, GCH CH High Mountain Everso in Command, the Pekingese, GCH CH PalaceGarden Malachy, the Bichon Frise, GCH CH Saks Hamelot Little Drummer Boy, and the Old English Sheepdog, GCH CH Lambluv Gambolon Blue Thunder.

It was the nation’s Number One Dog, the Cocker, Beckham, grabbing his 33rd BIS of the season. The Topeka Top Dog Throwdown continues through Monday.

NUMBER NINE

NUMBER TEN

SHOW INFO

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The author has been attending dog shows as a spectator and exhibitor for over 45 years. He is a retired management consultant who has advised multiple organizations affiliated with the AKC and the Cat Fanciers Association on business management, long range planning, customer service, and legislative matters. After 25 years of living in the big cities of New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, he now resides in his hometown of Memphis, TN.

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